MFE SnapVX: DATE wild card not working in LINK/TERMINATE commands NAME parameter

When creating a SNAPSHOT name using variables for date and time, the wild card is not functioning if used with a SnapVX LINK or TERMINATE command. 

Example: 

Variable %date8%, substitutes the current date in MMDDYYYY format. 

When used in a SnapVX LINK or TERMINATE command, the job returns error: ' ESNP51AE EMC SNAP API - SNAPSHOT NAME TO LINK DOES NOT EXIST'. 

Step 1: Create job(RC=0):

GLOBAL MODE(NOCOPY) CHECKONLINE(YES) -   
        MAXRC(4)  NAME(TEST_%DATE8%)          
CREATE (                             -         
         SOURCE(UNIT(9A5E))          -         
       )             

 
Step 2: Link job(RC=8):

GLOBAL MODE(NOCOPY) CHECKONLINE(YES) -    
       MAXRC(4)  NAME(TEST_%DATE8%)           
LINK (                               -            
      SOURCE(SYMDV#(026E) )          -                 
      TARGET(SYMDV#(0392) )          -                 
      LOCAL(UNIT(9A2C) )             -            
      COPYVOLID(YES)                 -            
      MODE(NOCOPY)                   -            
      )     

Link Result:

ESNP51AE EMC SNAP API - SNAPSHOT NAME TO LINK DOES NOT EXIST                       
ESNP041E MAXRC OF 4 EXCEEDED, PROCESSING TERMINATED                                      
ESNP440I PROCESSING COMPLETED, HIGHEST RETURN CODE ENCOUNTERED IS 8              
RQST RC SOURCE                                       TARGET                                       DISP   TRACKS   EXTENTS 
   2 08 LNK *L026E(TEST_%DATE8%)                     *L0392    

 

%DATE% and %TIME% variables are not substituted with the current date or time when running commands LINK, TERMINATE, RENAME, CONFIG or QUERY SNAPSHOT and specifying %DATE% or %TIME% in the snapshot name.                            

Permanent Fix

• For Mainframe Enablers 8.5, PTF SN85100 has been developed to correct the issue. It is available to download from Dell Technologies Online Support.
• For Mainframe Enablers 10.0.0, PTF SNA0012 has been developed to correct the issue. It is available to download from Dell Technologies Online Support.

SnapVX has been updated to support %DATE% and %TIME% variables with all commands for which the snapshot name can be specified.                                       
                                                       

Mainframe Enabler manual extract: 

NAME
Specifies the snapshot name.
NOTE: If the NAME parameter is specified in the GLOBAL command, it is not required in the CREATE command.
The snapshot name must be unique per source device. Specifying the NAME option only, as a GLOBAL parameter, allows for
only one snapshot per source device until the snapshot name is changed.
The NAME parameter can be specified on the CONFIG, CREATE, GLOBAL, LINK, QUERY SNAPSHOT, and RENAME commands.
It has a matching site option, &SNAPSHOT_NAME.
Syntax
NAME(snapshot_name[%date[{4|6|8}]%][%time[{4|6}]%])
Options
snapshot_name
Specifies the 1-32 character snapshot name. snapshot_name allows upper and lower case alpha,
numerics, hyphens (-), and underscores (_). If the name contains hyphens, enclose it in single quotes.
Embedded spaces are not allowed. Periods are allowed only if when GLOBAL ZDP(YES) is set.
To ensure a unique snapshot name per source device, append the snapshot_name with date and time
variables:

● %date%—Substitutes the current date in MM_DD_YYYY format.
● %date4%—Substitutes the current date in MMDD format.
● %date6%—Substitutes the current date in MMDDYY format.
● %date8%—Substitutes the current date in MMDDYYYY format.
● %time%—Substitutes the current time in HH_MM_SS format.
● %time4%—Substitutes the current time in HHMM format.
● %time6%—Substitutes the current time in HHMMSS format.

Message: 

ESNP51AE
EMC SNAP API - SNAPSHOT NAME TO LINK DOES NOT EXIST
Cause
An attempt was made to link a snapshot that does not exist.
Action
Specify an existing snapshot for the LINK operation.